Endodontics

The endodontics concerns with the diseases of tooth’s pulp. The pulp is located in the center of the tooth and in the root canals within each tooth root. The pulp, which consists of connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels, nourishes the tooth when the tooth erupts. The pulp can be removed safely from the pulp chamber and root canals, after the tooth becomes mature. The endodontic treatment is the removing of the pulp that is also known as the root canal treatment or root canal therapy.

Root Canal Treatment

If there is an infection or an irreversible damage to the pulp the root canal treatment is needed. An untreated cavity is a may cause the pulp infection. The enamel and the dentin of the tooth are eroded by the decay until it opens into the root canal system. And the bacteria infect the pulp. The antibiotic treatments are not effective for the infections inside teeth. The infection causes the inflammation and this inflammation restricts the tooth’s blood supply. So it is difficult for the antibiotics in the bloodstream to reach the infection. Also the reduced blood supplies; make it difficult for the pulp to heal itself.

Because of a fracture, trauma or extensive restorative work such as several fillings placed over a period of time, the pulp can become damaged. A common dental procedure can cause the inflammation of the pulp too. Preparation for a crown may necessitate the canal treatment for the root.

In many cases, although there isn’t an infection, the pulp can be inflamed. It is monitored to see if this happened or not before doing root canal treatment. When the pulp remains inflamed it may cause pain and lead to infection.
The infection formed in the pulp may cause an abscess by affecting the bone around the tooth. The aim of the root canal treatment is to save the tooth by removing the infected or damaged pulp, treating any infection and filling the empty canals with a filling material. The tooth may have to be extracted if root canal treatment is not done.

It is better to keep natural teeth. A missing tooth can make the neighboring teeth to drift out of line. Keeping natural teeth helps you to avoid more expensive and extensive treatments like implants or bridges. If a root canal treatment is not done to an injured and infected tooth, it will be a focal infection for body.

It does not mean that after having an endodontic treatment on a tooth, the tooth will not be pulled out in a few years. Usually the root canal treatment is done because of large cavity. The tooth becomes weakened but if the tooth is covered with a crown or restored with tooth-colored composite filling material after a root canal treatment, the tooth can last the rest of the life.

This information is not a substitute for an examination by a dentist who will provide the patient with a diagnosos of the necessery treatment.